Before You Arrive: Key Camp Details

First Time Campers: You will receive a welcome email from CampDoc.com after completing registration. This email will allow you to access the CampDoc website to complete your camper’s health profile and access other important information about camp.

Returning Campers: Log into CampDoc to complete registration. Please review your camper’s health profile and update any information for this camp season.

See what to bring to overnight camp: 2026 Overnight Camp Packing List

Before you arrive, your camper’s CampDoc profile must be 100% complete, medications properly labeled in a Ziplock bag, and luggage/day bag packed. 

Pennyroyal Camper Drop Off

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm CST 

Camp Pennyroyal

3095 Girl Scout Road Utica, KY 42376

Pennyroyal Camper Pick Up

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm CST 

Camp Pennyroyal

3095 Girl Scout Road Utica, KY 42376

Bear Creek Camper Drop Off

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm CST 

Bear Creek Aquatic Camp

4736 Barge Island Road Benton, KY 42025

Bear Creek Camper Pick Up

8:30 am - 9:30 am CST 

Bear Creek Aquatic Camp

4736 Barge Island Road Benton, KY 42025

Remember: Ensure the person picking up your camper is listed as a trusted contact on your camper’s CampDoc profile and has their ID to present to the camp team.  

Bus transportation is only available for campers attending Bear Creek Aquatic Camp. There is no bus transportation to or from Camp Pennyroyal.

Photo ID is required for pick up. Campers will only be released to someone listed as a Trusted Contact in CampDoc. Review driving directions to camp. Remember, Bear Creek Aquatic Camp is located in the Central time zone. Updates about camp bus arrival and departure will be sent via email.

Bus Rider Drop-Off (Going to Camp): 

Louisville Bus Stop 

St. Matthews UMC

319 Browns Lane Louisville, KY 40207

Loading Time: 10:30am -11:15am Eastern

Beaver Dam Bus Stop 

Huck’s Service Plaza

Western Kentucky Parkway #2

Loading Time: 12:15pm – 12:45pm Central

Bus Rider Pick Up Information (Returning Home):

Beaver Dam Bus Stop 

Huck’s Service Plaza

Western Kentucky Parkway #2

Pick Up Time: 11:15am – 11:45am Central

Louisville Bus Stop

St. Matthews UMC

319 Browns Lane Louisville, KY 40207

Loading Time: 3:00pm -4:00pm Eastern

Our goal is to provide a positive experience for all campers. Please help ensure your Girl Scout’s successful camp experience. Contact us at least one month prior to the session to discuss any physical, behavioral, emotional, dietary, or other needs for your camper. Once we have reviewed your camper’s needs, we will determine if we can safely accommodate those needs at camp. 

We do not participate in religious services at camp. If your camper has a religious commitment needing accommodation, please reach out to the camp director to plan accordingly. Campers may choose to participate in grace before meals, a Scouts’ Own ceremony, flag ceremonies, and camp traditions while at camp.

We are inspired to provide communities of acceptance where you’ll enjoy meeting new people from different backgrounds. At camp, we come together to challenge ourselves as we spend time in nature, try new things, and learn new skills. Our staff welcomes you to the magic of camp.

Brownie (2nd-3rd grade) campers will be assigned air-conditioned, shared-space cabins or bunk rooms. Rising 4th-12th graders will share space with other campers in their unit in an open-air cabin, shelter, or platform tent. Campers choose their own bunk or cabin within their assigned unit, with staff help as needed. Counselor quarters will be centrally located in the unit, separate from campers’ sleeping areas.  Male and female staff will not sleep in the same cabin as campers and are provided their own tent or cabin. Campers sleep with their heads pointed away from one another: toe-to-toe when beds are aligned or head-to-toe when beds are side-by-side. Restrooms are located in the building or within walking distance of each unit. Showers are located in the shower house in central camp. Campers have private stalls. Units will have scheduled shower times, usually in the evenings.

Before coming to camp, mark all of your belongings with your name in permanent marker. Many campers bring the same items to camp, and it is easy to misplace possessions. Although we try to help campers keep track of their belongings, GSK is not responsible for lost or damaged items. Stop by Lost and Found during check-out to ensure nothing of yours gets left behind.

Photos

We partner with Waldo Photos for camper pictures. We will give you a login code at drop-off on the first day of your camp session. Check back frequently throughout the session for photos of your camper and their friends and counselors!

Social Media

GSK’s social media posts will give some general updates on camp throughout the summer. Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram! 

Because our campers' experiences are our first priority, we cannot guarantee the frequency in which posts or photos of camp will be added to our council’s social media posts, nor the quantity of photos that will be taken of your camper’s unit. If you would like to contact us, please email CustomerCare@gskentuckiana.org, and do not use social media. 

CampGrams

CampDoc offers a paid option to send your camper electronic mail “CampGrams.” Camp staff will print and pass out these messages each day.

Phones

Caregivers: At any time, guardians can call the GSK Customer Care team at (888) 771-5170 or CustomerCare@gskentuckiana.org with questions or concerns. Camp staff may contact caregivers via phone as needed. To contact the camp directly, do so via email:

• Bear Creek: Carrie Mook, cmook@gskentuckiana.org
• Pennyroyal: Deb O’Shea, doshea@gskentuckiana.org

You will receive an arrival-to-camp email that includes an additional phone number you may use to contact the camp administrative staff directly while your camper is at camp.

Campers: GSK camps do not provide campers access to phones during their stay. However, there are circumstances in which we find it appropriate for a phone call home. The Camp Director will call the person listed as the primary contact first, and then determine if it is appropriate for the camper to speak to their primary contact. If a camper contacts a caregiver with concerns via a personal device, please encourage them to reach out to staff and then promptly contact camp yourself with any concerns or suggestions on how to improve your camper’s stay. 

Mail

You may prepare letters or packages and leave them with camp staff during check-in to be delivered to your camper throughout their session. Please label the desired delivery date, camper’s name, and unit/session program name. Please do not include food, candy, or gum in packages. If you plan to send letters or packages through the mail, we recommend you post them about a week in advance of your camper’s departure to ensure they arrive during your camper’s session.

Campers perform daily kapers, including setting tables, tidying up bathrooms and showers, cleaning the dining hall, and collecting litter around camp. Through kapers, we hope to instill in campers a sense of responsibility, ownership, and pride in our camps.

Camp Pennyroyal will have a small Trading Post with camp souvenirs like t-shirts, stickers, etc. Campers will have the opportunity to go to the Trading Post twice during their session.

Bear Creek Aquatic Camp campers will have the opportunity to purchase camp merchandise through an online order form before camp starts. Check back for more information in 2026!

Forms of Payment

Campers may bring cash to spend at Trading Post, in an envelope labeled with their name, unit, and the amount of money. Campers will turn this money in at check-in. We also accept credit and debit cards and Kentuckiana Credits. 

Campers are encouraged to meet and sit with new people during meals. With staff help, campers assist in serving and cleaning up meals. Nutritious and balanced kid-friendly meals are served with plenty of choices and seconds for hungry campers. Meals include an entree, sides, a fruit or salad bar, sandwich options, and dessert. Campers will also have the opportunity to plan and cook a meal over a campfire, as long as the weather cooperates. Please notify us of any allergies or special dietary needs at least one month prior to your camper's arrival via CampDoc or CustomerCare@gskentuckiana.org.

We try our best to accommodate all camper needs, but GSK cannot guarantee that all special diets can be fully accommodated and will not issue refunds based on inability to accommodate a special diet.

TIP: Some campers with special diets have found success in bringing alternative foods to camp. Our kitchen staff will be happy to store any special diet foods in our kitchen and serve them to the camper at meal time. Do not keep food in camper luggage and avoid bringing foods that contain peanuts.

Every unit will plan and cook a meal over a fire or camp stove (weather permitting). Campers will use their mess kits for this meal, then wash them before returning home. 

Bear Creek campers, with the support of trained counselors, will also plan, prepare for, and experience a night of primitive camping. Some overnight adventures happen on camp property; other units travel across Kentucky Lake to camp out in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. 

Birthdays at camp are tremendous fun! Please let us know if your birthday falls during your session so we can sing “Happy Birthday” and celebrate your special day. We can also make arrangements for a special phone call with your family.

We want your camper to have the best possible experience at camp. Some campers miss home, whether it is their first or fifteenth time away from home. Our camp staff are trained to help each camper get the most out of their camp experience, including what to do when homesickness strikes. Here are some things you can do at home to help prepare your camper for being away from home. In building and honing these skills at camp, you may notice your camper takes a bit more initiative at home and has an easier time talking to new people or trying new things. 

• Involve your camper in the preparation for camp. Have them pack their suitcase and choose comfort items to bring.
• Practice being away from home through family camp-outs, sleepovers with friends, or Girl Scout troop trips.
• Campers feel the emotional burden of anxious parents. Speak positively about camp. You are setting them up for success! Avoid negative statements like, "Rover won't have anyone to play with. What will I do without you around the house? I'm going to miss you so much." Try instead, "Rover is going to love hearing all the new songs you'll learn, and I can't wait to hear about your cookout. Maybe you can teach me how to cook some new campfire foods."
• Avoid planning special family events that they will miss out on while at camp.
• Send letters while they are at camp. Avoid statements that may make them feel guilty or sad about being away from home. Mention goals for camp like making friends, doing a cannonball, or learning a skill that they can share with you after camp is completed.
• Avoid "pick-up deals," such as saying, "If you miss home, just call and we will pick you up." We help campers empower themselves to handle emotions in a healthy way and will happily coach a camper through their homesickness; but it is easy for campers to fixate on "pick-up deals" and not enjoy the fun around them.
• The camp director will contact the emergency contact listed on CampDoc if a camper's homesickness impedes their or others' abilities to experience camp.

Campers are not allowed to have visitors during the session. Families are welcome to a self-guided tour of camp after signing out their campers on pick-up day.

Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana places high value on the mental and social health and safety of our campers. Our overnight camps welcome campers into face-to-face friendships and fun, so cell phones and smart watches are not allowed for campers or CITs. These devices must be left at home or checked in with the Camp Director after the bus ride to camp. We will return them on the last day of your session when you board the bus for home or check out.

You can reach us! Just before your session begins, your Camp Director will share a phone number you may use to contact the camp administrative staff if you have a question, change in plans, urgent news, or emergency at home.

Help us reach you! Please ensure that your campers' emergency contact information is up to date in CampDoc in case a staff person needs to contact you with questions, news about your camper, or to report any important or emergent situations at camp. 

Laundry facilities are not available for campers. Please send enough clothes to last for the entire camp session. If a camper gets sick or has a bedwetting accident, the counselors will launder bedding and/or clothing.

Campers should come to camp prepared for all types of weather. Camp is open rain or shine, and programs may be modified because of weather conditions.

Staff are trained in anticipating and responding to emergency situations. In addition, we have an agreement with the local emergency response departments to provide emergency response as needed. Campers and staff together practice emergency drills at least once during each session. If your camper is on camp during an emergency, families will receive communication as soon as it is safe to do so.

GSK strives to maintain a camp environment that is safe, fun, and educational for each camper, based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Campers are expected to be friendly to other campers and counselors. All campers must sign a Code of Conduct before check-in. This is in the authorizations section of the Camp Health Profile. Please review it with your camper before they sign it. Violations of the Code of Conduct or other behavioral issues will result in corrective actions up to and including the Camp Director calling the camper's emergency contact to come pick them up early. No refunds will be given for early dismissal. It is the responsibility of the emergency contact to arrange for timely transportation, as deemed appropriate by the Camp Director.

Our campers will be sharing living space with other campers, and this requires all of us to be sensitive to each other's differences and respect each other’s privacy. With this in mind, please remind your camper not to change in front of other campers and to use community spaces, such as shower buildings and dining areas respectfully. Talk with your camper about how to keep their area neat. Help them understand that they may not always agree with their bunk mates. Tell your camper to ask their counselors for help when needed or if they are feeling uncomfortable. 

Will you be asking campers and staff to share their pronouns during introductions?

We will not ask or require each camper or staff person to identify and share their pronouns. As we have worked to become a more inclusive and supportive organization, we do provide campers and staff who wish to share their pronouns the opportunity to do so during initial introductions. Campers are not required to share their pronouns.

How will my camper’s privacy be maintained in their unit?

We have private changing areas for all campers. In the interest of everyone’s comfort and safety, campers are asked not to change clothes in front of one another. Staff are trained to respect and maintain the privacy of campers and to reinforce a culture in which campers respect one another’s privacy.

Will male counselors be sleeping in my camper’s tent or cabin?

No, male staff are provided their own tent or cabin. 

The health and safety of our campers and staff is always a top priority. Trained first-aid staff are at camp sessions, and plans are established for medical intervention from local providers. To support campers' mental health, our camp programs are phone free. For public health concerns, camp sessions operate based on current recommendations from the Center for Disease Control, American Camp Association, and local government.

Please contact Customer Care with any questions at 888-771-5170. For login or technical issues, contact CampDoc at 734-619-8300.

Medications are routinely administered during meals and before bed. Exceptions can be made to accommodate certain prescriptions. With the exception of emergency medications, and/or when units are off-site, the Health Center Supervisor will administer all medications. We strongly recommend that you do not make any changes to your camper's medication regimen within two months of the beginning of their camp session. Please make sure your camper's prescribing physician knows that they will be attending camp, so you plan accordingly. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact us at CustomerCare@gskentuckiana.org.

The Health Center has first-aid supplies, as well as over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, Benadryl, Tums, and Pepto-Bismol. Unless your camper takes these daily, there is no need to send any of these medications. These medicines will only be administered to your camper if you have completed and uploaded the Over-the-Counter Administration Form in CampDoc.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT pack medications or vitamins in your camper's suitcase. This is a huge risk and against our safety standards. Place all medication containers in a clear sealable bag. Make sure each container of medication is labeled with the camper's name before placing it in the bag.

Label the outside of the bag with:

• Camper Name
• Camp Unit
• Medication
• When they take it
• How much they take

All prescription medicines must be in their original containers and bear the name of the camper on the original pharmaceutical label. Only medications listed on your camper’s CampDoc profile can be administered. If not listed in CampDoc, the check-in process will be slowed down, or you will receive a call before the medication can be administered to your camper. 

Emergency Medications: Camp staff are aware of Girl Scouts who are authorized to keep emergency medications (such as EpiPens and emergency inhalers) in their possession. Please recognize that your camper carries the ultimate responsibility for keeping their medication on hand. We recommend that a second EpiPen, emergency inhaler, and/or diabetes supplies be brought to camp and stored in the Healthcare Center as a backup to the one your camper keeps in their possession.

Please contact the camp director at least a month before your camper’s arrival if your camper has any physical, emotional, dietary, or medical needs. 

Bear Creek: Carrie Mook, cmook@gskentuckiana.org. 

Pennyroyal: Deb O’Shea, doshea@gskentuckiana.org.

In most cases, we can work with you so accommodations can be made to ensure your camper can have a safe and positive camp experience. If staff identifies a need from your CampDoc information we may check in with you prior to arrival via phone call or the health supervisor at camp may ask to meet with you during check in. 

If your camper becomes ill or injured while at camp the emergency contact will be contacted promptly via phone call to follow up on the plan of care and to discuss pick-up if necessary. Our camps have connections with the local emergency response services, urgent care centers, and hospitals that are prepared to help our campers and staff as needed. Any minor accidents are treated by staff trained in first aid and documented in CampDoc.

Dehydration is the number one cause of health problems at camp. If a camper does not drink enough water, they may develop a headache, stomach cramps, or feel lightheaded and dizzy. Our staff give campers frequent water breaks and encourage them to drink water at every meal. Help get your camper in the habit of carrying a water bottle with them to sip throughout the day and practice drinking plain water with no flavorings added. 

Teach your camper about considerate application of bug spray: step outside, apply it downwind from others, only apply it on yourself.

Remind campers to perform tick checks at various times throughout the day, including after hikes, during showers, and anytime they change clothes, such as for bedtime and swimming. Remind your camper that if they see a tick or spot that they have not seen before, or feel a small bump, they should tell their counselor so it can be removed and documented.

Camp is an active place, so look for waterproof and sweat-proof sunblock. Educate your camper on how to apply sunblock effectively, thoroughly, and frequently. We discourage campers from sunbathing at camp due to high levels of daily exposure. Discuss with them the dangers of over-exposure. Rash-guards and sun-protective clothing are always a great choice.

Upon arrival at camp or the bus stop, each camper will undergo a quick health screening. We check all campers’ hair and feet, measure their temperature, and ask them a few health questions. Check your child's hair and scalp for signs of scratching, irritation, or small white eggs in the weeks leading up to camp. Allow time to shampoo and comb your child's hair before checking again days later. For more information, visit cdc.gov and search "lice.”

We collect medications at this time and check that they are all appropriately packaged in original containers and listed in CampDoc. During this time, campers or families may discuss the health history and any other concerns. If the health supervisor has any additional questions, they will reach out to the camper's emergency contact. If a camper is found to have lice, is contagious, or is deemed too sick to be at camp, the health supervisor reserves the right to send the camper home. Camp is a very physical experience, and sickness can make it not fun and possibly dangerous.

Campers will typically shower every day, except for opening day, closing day, and days of primitive camping trips. If your camper is not accustomed to taking a shower or washing their own hair, please teach them how, and practice before camp. Look at the bottles and containers you send to make sure labels are clear for your camper and can be opened easily. Pack all shower items in a backpack, tote bag, or shower caddy to make it easy to carry them to and from the shower house.

Our campers will be sharing living space with other campers, and this requires all of us to be sensitive to each other's differences. With this in mind, discuss how to dress and change in a room with other campers and to use community spaces, such as shower buildings and dining areas. Talk with your camper about how to keep their area neat. Help them understand that they may not always agree with their bunkmates, and tell them how to ask their counselors to help when needed or if they are feeling uncomfortable.

Most campers swim every day. It is important to tell your camper that they should wear their swimsuit only when swimming. Campers are typically given the opportunity to change out of their swimsuits immediately after exiting the lake. Wearing a wet swimsuit for many hours may cause health problems such as rashes.

Please send supplies if your camper is of age to have a period. Camp is full of long physical days, hot weather, and other new stresses that can throw our bodies out of routine. This extra stress can cause campers to get their periods early or even have their period for the first time. Our staff are prepared should a camper get their very first period at camp or find themself unprepared. However, preparing at home for those who are about to hit puberty can be helpful and make things not so scary. Encourage your camper to talk to their counselor or the Health Center Manager if they have any problems or need supplies.

This includes everything from ponchos and dry socks to sunglasses and a hat. Empower your camper to figure out appropriate clothes by checking outdoor conditions before leaving home.